North School News

November 27, 2013 5:34 AM

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Avonworth

Cheerleaders Kelly Evans and Natalie Malloy will be participating in the 87th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade with marching bands, celebrities, and floats. They two students learned of the opportunity at summer cheerleading camp through “Spirit of America Productions,” who will choreograph the performance.

North Allegheny

Bill Phillips, senior manager of information technology, told school directors Nov. 20 about $3.4 million in technology improvements, which will be funded through a previous $4 million loan.

New wiring will be installed at all seven elementary schools, and a high-bandwith, high-density wireless network throughout the district.

That will allow either a “bring your own technology” plan for students, or the district will provide technology through leasing the equipment.

“We were talking about I-Pads in lower elementary, laptop carts in middle school and maybe a 1:1 initiative on laptops in high school,” Mr. Gaertner said.

Mr. Phillips also highlighted a “video management control system” for $388,000 that would enhance district security. The system would allow them to broadcast messages to every classroom in the district. That upgrade is a priority recommendation in the district’s security initiative, he said.

“It’s a really great way to communicate any emergency events throughout the district,” he said.

• The marching band won its 11th consecutive Best Overall Band award in the Veteran’s Day parade. They were among 18 bands competing in the parade.

North Hills

Superintendent Patrick J. Mannarino will be featured at the district’s Second Cup of Coffee program from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Dec. 5 in West View Elementary School, 47 Chalfonte Ave., West View.

The session, open to residents of Ross and West View who do not have children in the school system, will enable a dialog with the district’s chief administrator.

Additional sessions will be held Feb. 12 in the middle school and April 16 in Ross Elementary School.

Information: 412-318-1014 or hartlea@nhsd.net.

• Senior Stanley Marciniak and junior Luke Fabisiak recently were named North Hills High School Volunteers of the Year as part of the 2014 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program for their volunteer service. They are eligible for the program’s state and national-level honors.

Stanley is National Honor Society president, senior class president and is a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions, Hands for Service Club and Spanish Club. He volunteers with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, assists athletes at Special Olympics events and participates with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk.

Luke volunteers with Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to glean crops to help feed those in need in the area. He also cooks and packages meals for senior citizens as part of the Berkley Hills Meals on Wheels program.

The awards program recognizes outstanding community service by young Americans.

Quaker Valley

Friends Of Quaker Valley Schools Education Foundation recently received a $10,000 Educational Improvement Tax Credit donation from Northwest Savings Bank in Sewickley. This is the education foundation’s first such contribution.

Through the program, Northwest Savings Bank is helping to fund the Studio Life Art program at the middle school and other after-school programs.

The Studio Life Art program provides students in grades 6-12 with advanced academic choices by extending the school day from 3-5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. It includes art history, philosophy as well as science-based service learning.

• The school board recently recognized secondary music teachers Matthew Boice and Lou Valenzi with its 2013 Award for Excellence. Established in 2001, the award is presented annually to a teacher or teachers to recognize distinguished service to students.

Mr. Boice is high school band and choir teacher and Mr. Valenzi is the middle school chorus teacher.

• The first day of school for 2014-15 will be Aug. 25 — the Monday before Labor Day — under the calendar adopted Nov. 19 by school directors.

The winter holiday break will begin on Dec. 23, 2014, with an early dismissal. School will resume on Jan. 5, 2015.

A 10-day spring break begins on March 27, 2015, with an early dismissal. Students and staff return on April 7.

The last day of the school year will be June 5, 2015 with commencement June 8 at Robert Morris University.

The 2014-15 calendar is available at www.qvsd.org.

• Registration is underway for the Quaker Valley Little Dribblers winter basketball program for girls and boys in kindergarten through fourth grade.

The program will run from 9 to 10 a.m. on Dec. 14, Dec. 21, Jan. 4, and Jan. 11.

Members of the 2013-14 boys’ basketball team will assist Little Dribblers with skills, drills and games. All participants will receive a QV T-shirt as well as free admittance to two home varsity basketball games.

Each year, the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Division of Federal Programs honors the top performing Title I schools in Pennsylvania. This year, Haine Elementary is one of those schools, earning the designation of a Title I Distinguished School.

Title I provides financial assistance to schools for the education of children from low-income families.

Haine is among 92 schools across the state that scored in the highest 5 percent of Title I schools, based on aggregate math and reading scores in the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment or Keystone Exams, and met all Annual Measurable Objectives.

The state will honor Haine Elementary School at the 2014 Title I Improving Schools’ Performance Conference, and the school is now eligible to be chosen as Pennsylvania’s National Title I Distinguished School.

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